Etymologically
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problème

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pʁɔ.blɛm/[1]

Forms

problème m (plural problèmes)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin problēma (“a question to be solved”), from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “something put forward; obstacle; task; question”), derived from προβάλλω (probállō, “to throw before; to put forward”), from πρό (pró, “before”) and βάλλω (bállō, “to throw”).[2][3][4][5][6] Bloch and Wartburg note that the word was rare before the 17th century.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1380 in Évrart de Conty's French version of the Problems of Aristotle, meaning a speculative difficulty to which one seeks an answer.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Until the 17th century the word belonged to philosophy and theology; it then entered mathematics (1612, Bachet's Problèmes plaisans et delectables qui se font par les nombres) and physics (1632, Descartes).[2][3] The school exercise in mathematics is found in Colette (1900).[2]

In the 18th century problème came to mean a thing or person hard to understand (1753) and a practical difficulty (1775, Voltaire).[2][3] Avoir des problèmes is recorded in 1954 (Simone de Beauvoir), and il n'y a pas de problème (1963) is a calque of English no problem.[2] Faux problème dates from 1932 (Bergson).[4]

Timeline

  • c. 1380 – Évrart de Conty's Problèmes d'Aristote.[2]
  • 1612 – Bachet's mathematical Problèmes.[2]
  • 1632 – In physics, in Descartes.[3]
  • 1753 – A person or thing hard to explain.[2]
  • 1775 – A practical difficulty, in Voltaire.[2]
  • 1900 – A school exercise, in Colette.[2]
  • 1963 – Il n'y a pas de problème.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A question open to discussion in a field of knowledge: le problème du mal.[8]
  2. A question to be solved by reasoning; a mathematics exercise: un problème de géométrie.[4][8]
  3. A difficulty to be dealt with: les problèmes de logement.[2][1]
  4. (familiar) Trouble: avoir des problèmes, pas de problème.[2][1]
  5. A person or thing hard to understand: cet enfant est un problème.[2][4]
  • problématique
  • problématiser
  • problémiste
  • Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)
  • English problem

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 408a
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert